IAC's pandering to that Playboy skankand x-factor reject is just unedifying and dull. People were ridiculed for saying the series is losing it's way this year, yet it seems they were right.

Still probably just a blip for the show, but it's been very CBB making an obnoxious US reality star the focal point, not sure why they're copying a lesser prog.

Oh and stop it with the 8.30 thing it was the same last year, and you'd think the fans would have got it by now.

Stronger schedules in whose opinions? Our fantasy schedules are devised in the way we would like to see something. If everyone on here were avid fans of CtM then there'd be no hesitation about putting it on Christmas night. It is tonally similar to DA and that seems perfectly suited to Christmas night, albeit in a shorter slot, apparently.

The problem with CTM on Xmas Day is that really it's a programme for mums and grannies, not really something for the kids or for communial family viewing or for the grown-ups after the kids have gone to bed, the three options in audience for Xmas Day programmes to aim for.

Having said that, I'm now perfectly happy with the scheduling of Xmas Day CTM as it is now even though I won't be watching either it or Corrie. It doesn't seem to be in the way of other BBC1 programmes like in previous years.

I do admit that last year's 6.15pm scheduling of CtM didn't feel right. To start the evening it was a bit heavy going. However, this year it follows LE, a sci fi family adventure and a sitcom and is basically bang in the middle between a soap and 90 minutes of comedy. It makes the schedule appear to be a whole more varied.

Everyone here does seem like avid fans of Call The Midwife. This forum seems obsessed with it

Naughty! Slap handies!

I think both IAC and Apprentice are lower as a big character from each show has left. James Hill dominated The Apprentice and was a major talking point as was Jimmy Bullard in IAC.

This. I was enjoying it at the beginning but I've pretty much lost interest now...

CTM is basically this year's Corrie fodder in the ratings battle.

It will be dented but timeshift magnificently and it will harm itv's numbers for Coro and DA too. I'm happier with it at 7.50 than 6.15 and it might inherit a sizeable lead in from Miranda who are not going to watch the last 10 mins of Emmerdale and may not be Corrie fans. It will be BBC1's lowest overnight of the evening (5-10.40 anyway) but will still get 9m+ consolidated.

That said at 8.30 xmas eve it might have gone stratospheric!

It does seem that way at times although nobody ever seem to say that they watch it !!
I have watched a few but am not an avid watcher although its very well made.

You are a walking contradiction.

On thread What a boring launch (16th Nov)

On THIS thread The Ratings Thread (17th Nov)

And again on this thread The Ratings Thread (1st Dec)

I'd love to know at what point between the "boring" launch and giving up on the 1st of December you were "enjoying it."

I don't even watch I'm a Celebrity but unfortunately my memory is rather good and I can't help but point out the ... inconsistencies here.

Let's add in a final quote from 1st December:

Robbie, you need to come to terms with the Christmas Eve BBC1 schedule! Lie on my couch and tell me your woes! My fees are very reasonable! Tell yourself very slowly, but assuringly, that "Call the Midwife is not on Christmas Eve". Repeat this 100 times and you'll start to feel much better.

Robbie is right though, it would have been good for 2-3 million more on Christmas Eve.

The "Call The Midwife should/shouldn't be on Christmas Day" debate has echoes of the "inc/exc +1" debate to be frank. Repetitive, subjective and something that will never be decided on unanimously.

I like Call The Midwife and watch it all the time. I just question its appearance on Christmas Day. BBC1 is well scheduled on Christmas Day, it flows nicely. This year Call The Midwife faces Emmerdale and Coronation Street with no news bulletin to bump up its programme average. It could do better than last year with this scheduling.

Whether Robbie is right or wrong is irrelevant. I am just delighted that Robbie is once again a key contributor to this thread! All we need now is GeorgeS back and our family is complete!

Which only highlights how he/she is complaining about a show they have no intention of enjoying. Its basically just jump on the bandwagon of 'Its boring now such and such as left' and lets slag off IAC for the sake of it.

The Call The Midwife debate can only be decided when there's evidence of it performing better on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day. Maybe next year with Sherlock, they might put that on Christmas Day and move CTM and we can finally see what happens.

My sister was gutted that some bloke called Jimmy was voted out! She said "I'm not watching this show anymore this year!" I phoned her last night and she said "Got to go, Celebrities on!" Clearly the lowish figures just represent the usual end of series lull. It'll bounce back by the weekend because the final will be popular regardless as to who's in it.

Me? I'll just be blooming glad when it's all over!

Where is the buzz for ITV's schedule...?

Oh sorry, forgot, there isn't any I'll be honest, I'm looking forward to Emmerdale on Christmas Day and that may be the only programme I'll watch between BBC1 and ITV. Just hoping there's something decent on the other channels, but I'm doubtful...

No one looking forward to You've Been Framed then?

Good point! Maybe ITV's lacklustre line up is the reason people are decrying BBC1's weakish Christmas Eve schedule - because a poor line up looks worse when there's nothing much against it.

Also people are surprised that ITV have their strongest Christmas Eve line up without really trying in years!

I always dislike the final week of IAC, even the final. The first two weeks are the most exciting, probably because there's a full camp also. Just not interested in the voting off bit and interviews.

I am - but only because I want to know how low it can go !!

The trouble is by the time its all over my ITV button has siezed up and I cant tune in to ITV anymore. Although this Xmas I dont suppose I will miss it !!

You do know you're implying that it can go lower than it has already sank to?

If Skyfall wallops Harry Hill 8m to 3m he won't be able to wolf down his turkey dinner quick enough to get on here.

Hope the Beeb serve up a good episode of EE for him this year, I know how much he enjoys being made to watch it by his in laws!

On CTM, I was actually saying why it was reasonably well scheduled!